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Do you think it is necessary for a HS senior to necessarily start college the fall after they graduate? I am considering letting my daughter delay for 6 months to a year.

By Dadster on Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 05:56 pm: Edit

Many colleges offer a one year deferral option for acccepted students. It's probably better to go through the admissions process during senior year, unless the intervening time will be spent in such an interesting and significant manner that it makes sense to delay applying. Check with the colleges of interest to find out about their deferral policies.

If your daughter is going to take some time off, I'd lean toward the full year. Some colleges schedule courses in such a way that it would be inconvenient to start in January; also, by starting in the fall (of whichever year) she'll be able to take advantage of all the freshman orientation activities, and will be arriving at the same time as all the other new students.

Does your daughter have a plan for the time between HS and college?

By Sally R. on Monday, September 09, 2002 - 05:34 pm: Edit

Here are three sites that offer ideas for constructive year-off activities:

The Center for Interim Programs

Taking Time Off

Time Out Associates

Your daughter might also want to look into the national AmeriCorps program, which offers aid toward college costs for participants who do community-service type projects during their time off. For more information, contact 1-800-942-2677 or Americorps. I've heard good things from those who've been involved.

By weasy on Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 09:26 pm: Edit

I was wondering do the UC's grant a year of deferment, Im thinking of spending 4-6 months in a foreign country...maybe in Europe or India, as a missionary, and 4-6 months as an intern/employee at either a hospital or doctors office, are these good reasons to take a year off..Id appreciate any input, the UC's im really curious about are UCSD, UCLA, UCI, UCD

By weasy on Friday, September 20, 2002 - 08:52 pm: Edit

anyone for my question

By Dadster on Friday, September 20, 2002 - 10:08 pm: Edit

I'd suggest checking with the admissions office at the schools themselves, weasy. It's always better to go direct for definitive info rather than rely on a random forum poster. The quality of commentary is pretty good here, but why take the chance?

By Blithe (Blithe) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 05:08 pm: Edit

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